Promo or military tickets?

[FeistyDisneyMom]

I'm trying to figure out if it makes sense to buy all of our tickets with the promo rate in advance of our March trip, or if we should wait until we get there and use brother-in-law's military discount. We will want 5-day park hoppers, and I'm not sure you can get 5-day tickets with the military deal. We also need more tickets than he can buy (6 adults, 3 kids), so I know we will end up buying some separate anyway.

He's never done it before, and neither have I so we're total newbs. If there is a decent site somewhere to explain it I'd be grateful for a link or any help. Thanks!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Here is some recent info on the military discount tickets:
Buying military ticket at the gate
Military Discount?
Military Salute Ticket in conjunction w/ Disney Park Hopper
Hope you find some useful information there!

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

I went back and forth regarding the math of it all. (see above link from the luckyrabbit). I called ITT at Camp Pendelton 760-725-5863 and bought 4 Salute tickets; each 4 days. The cost was $194.50 per ticket and $10 for FedEx overnight package fee. $789 total. I had them the next day and I was able to load them into the Disney App already. the 3 day tickets are $174.50 each. The tickets are park hoppers, do not offer a Magic Morning or include MaxPass. Have fun planning!

 

[matheke]

If you would be willing to do 4 Day hoppers you can save a lot of money. You could buy all six of the adults Salute tickets and the buy the children's hoppers for about $330 each

The current Salute 4 day hoppers are $194.75 from Pendelton. A 5 day military discounted 5 day hopper is $362. Going 1 extra day will cost you $167 per person with a 5 day hopper. That is about $1000 for an extra day

Buying a 4 day salute ticket and an additional 1 day hopper ($147) would save you $20 per ticket so it would still be about $900 for an extra day.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

We usually do 4 days, not 5 so I think the 4 day option will be what we do. And since we won't have an early admittance day with those tickets I won't feel bad if we do non-disney stuff on Tuesday. Plus added win - I might actually end up under budget on tickets and make hubby's day!

Thank you all! Checking out the links from luckyrabbit before committing to anything, but looks like it'll be 4-day salute tickets for us!

 

[lalasmama]

Thank you all! Checking out the links from luckyrabbit before committing to anything, but looks like it'll be 4-day salute tickets for us!

Definitely check the links for the limits. We use them twice a year, and have only had one issue--since I'm a spouse, my ID expires. They will not let you buy them with expired ID. We were also surprised to learn that a family friend with VA benefits from a medical discharge was not eligible. Basically, the service member needs to be active or straight retired. And remember the service member (or spouse with military ID) needs to be there physically for the first use of the Salute tickets.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

1168.50 for 6 4-day salute hoppers; 837 for 3 4-day promo hoppers = 2005.50

2511 for 9 4-day promo hoppers

It looks like a no-brainer here. I'm planning on adding MP as well, and looks like that will be $40/person so budgeting $360 for that and we are still well within budget (was shooting for under 3k and 9 5-day hoppers w/ MP was JUST over that). Is there anything I'm missing? We can walk up and buy the Salute tickets at the gate, and I can buy the promo tickets online now to spread the cost out. I'll go haunt the rest of the board looking for MP info, but I'm assuming right now there isn't a big issue adding it when we get there versus preordering.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

Definitely check the links for the limits. We use them twice a year, and have only had one issue--since I'm a spouse, my ID expires. They will not let you buy them with expired ID. We were also surprised to learn that a family friend with VA benefits from a medical discharge was not eligible. Basically, the service member needs to be active or straight retired. And remember the service member (or spouse with military ID) needs to be there physically for the first use of the Salute tickets.

Good to know about the eligibility. I'll read through the fine print with my brother-in-law!

 

[Bigrob37]

1168.50 for 6 4-day salute hoppers; 837 for 3 4-day promo hoppers = 2005.50

2511 for 9 4-day promo hoppers

It looks like a no-brainer here. I'm planning on adding MP as well, and looks like that will be $40/person so budgeting $360 for that and we are still well within budget (was shooting for under 3k and 9 5-day hoppers w/ MP was JUST over that). Is there anything I'm missing? We can walk up and buy the Salute tickets at the gate, and I can buy the promo tickets online now to spread the cost out. I'll go haunt the rest of the board looking for MP info, but I'm assuming right now there isn't a big issue adding it when we get there versus preordering.

I have been able to purchase 9 Military tickets at the gate. We just had to do two separate transaction. Also FYI if you purchase your Salute tickets at the gate, you can use Disney Gift cards, When gift cards are bought at Target using their REDCARD and get an additional 5% off.

 

[lalasmama]

Good to know about the eligibility. I'll read through the fine print with my brother-in-law!

http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Disney-World-Military-Discount-ID-Guide.html

Here's the visual guide of acceptable ID's.

 

[twodogs]

I have been able to purchase 9 Military tickets at the gate. We just had to do two separate transaction. Also FYI if you purchase your Salute tickets at the gate, you can use Disney Gift cards, When gift cards are bought at Target using their REDCARD and get an additional 5% off.

It was my understanding that the military member (or spouse) was limited to 6 Salute tickets at each park each calendar year unless the member’s immediate family (spouse and children) exceeded 6 people. Were you able to buy 9 Salute tickets with just one military member?

 

[lalasmama]

It was my understanding that the military member (or spouse) was limited to 6 Salute tickets at each park each calendar year unless the member’s immediate family (spouse and children) exceeded 6 people. Were you able to buy 9 Salute tickets with just one military member?

They have the option of sprinkling some pixie dust and going over the limit for a family group. I'm unsure if they would in this case (ie, sibs and family instead of an immediate nuclear family unit).

 

[MilitaryMouse]

I thought that Salute tickets could only be purchased on base/at an ITT office? Did this change?

I know there’s military tickets at the gate but those aren’t nearly as good as the Salute ones.

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

They sell Salute tickets at the gate. They also sell them at the concierge desk at the onsite hotels.

 

[MilitaryMouse]

They sell Salute tickets at the gate. They also sell them at the concierge desk at the onsite hotels.

That’s awesome, I didn’t know this! Thanks for saving me a trip to base!

 

[lalasmama]

I thought that Salute tickets could only be purchased on base/at an ITT office? Did this change?

I know there’s military tickets at the gate but those aren’t nearly as good as the Salute ones.

If you are within 50 miles of a base, you are supposed to buy them at the base. However, they "keep a small supply at the ticket booths for those who exceed the 50 mile radius," per the lead at the ticket booth that I used.

We've been buying at the ticket booths two or three times a year since 2013. The first time we wanted them, we drove the 3 hours to get to JBLM. Then they pointed out we could have them FedEx'ed, and we did that (with a $$ fee! ). The last trip of 2013, we bought at the booths. So much easier!

I'm confused on the minor-discount ones, though. I thought those HAD to be done through ITT/MWR?? I haven't had to do those, though, so may be I just didn't understand correctly with those.

 

[Bigrob37]

It was my understanding that the military member (or spouse) was limited to 6 Salute tickets at each park each calendar year unless the member’s immediate family (spouse and children) exceeded 6 people. Were you able to buy 9 Salute tickets with just one military member?

Yes I was able to buy 9 with just one military member. Disneyworld is very strict, but Disneyland is very generous. We go multiple times each year and always are able to purchase more then the 6.

 

[twodogs]

Good to know. We have always just bought 6 per park per year. I always buy them here at our local base so I have one less thing to do when we arrive. I wonder if our local base keeps track of how many we buy yearly? I always thought the parks themselves kept track too, but maybe that is only at WDW?

 

[CateinPhoenix]

Good to know. We have always just bought 6 per park per year. I always buy them here at our local base so I have one less thing to do when we arrive. I wonder if our local base keeps track of how many we buy yearly? I always thought the parks themselves kept track too, but maybe that is only at WDW?

I wondered this as well. Maybe I'll ask at our ITT office next time we are there.

 

[yesdnil]

They sell Salute tickets at the gate. They also sell them at the concierge desk at the onsite hotels.

Just want to add for anyone scrolling through, this is true at Disneyland (CA), but not for WDW (FL).